Cruise Ship Activities

On Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, you will find unique ways to spend time onboard, but one experience that really stands out is the Escape the Rubicon.

Escape the Rubicon is an escape room experience, which Royal Caribbean first introduced on Anthem of the Seas (it is also available on Ovation of the Seas). On Harmony of the Seas, the escape room has its own dedicated venue, so it is fully built out for a complete experience.

If you are knew to an escape room game, you might be a little hesitant at the idea of going into a "locked" room for an our and not really knowing what to expect. Take solace in the fact that Escape the Rubicon might have been the most fun we had onboard the ship. This is truly unlike anything else you have ever done on a cruise ship, and it is incredible appealing.

What to expect

If you are unfamiliar with an escape room game, essentially it is a timed challenge, where you and those in your group have a set time limit to figure out various puzzles and clues to solve an overall solution that provides the means of "escaping" the room. Royal Caribbean teamed up with Puzzle Break to create a special version just for Harmony of the Seas.

When you arrive for your session, a short video will explain some ground rules of the puzzle. A crew member will supervise your group and will go over a few items in the room that are not part of the game, such as fire sprinklers and emergency exits.

The host will then have one member of the team hit the start button and you are off, leaving you with 60 minutes to figure out the puzzles to escape.

The Puzzle

The game requires a minimum of six players, believe me when I say this, you need at least six to play. During my experience we only had five and the host would play as the sixth person, but only doing what he told her to do specifically.

At a few points in the game we were moving slower than we should to complete the puzzle. The host would give us basic hints like, "what are we looking for" or "what are we trying to complete" in a way to bring the team on task and focus.

Without giving the puzzle away, the key is to work together as a team and think outside the box. It is very easy to assume certain elements of the room and ideas are "obvious", but often paying attention to the small details really helps. In addition, split tasks among members of the group to get things done quicker. Often there are multiple puzzles to decipher at the same time, so make use of the brain power in the room.

What we liked: A completely different experience from the usual cruise ship activities, and quite challenging too.

What we did not like: It is not a complimentary activity.

Cost: When we experienced Escape the Rubicon, the game was complimentary but we have heard Royal Caribbean is now charging $8.99 per guest to compete.

Royal Caribbean offers a lot of activities, events and shows for guests to do onboard their ships, including a themed event that takes us back to the days of the Great Gatsby.

The Prohibition Party is offered on Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class cruise ships and is a themed dance event that has a cover charge for guest to experience it.

While on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, we were able to see what the Prohibition Party is all about and experience it for ourselves.

We reserved the Prohibition Party prior to our cruise and it is usually held late at night, with a start time of 10:00pm.

The premise of the Prohibition Party is you are going to a 1920's-style speakeasy, where the Eighteenth Amendment is in full effect, and guests are there to sing, dance and drink "tea".

Guests will receive in their stateroom an invitation for the special event and a place to meet. Once there, they are instructed to give the person at the side door the secret password and are then allowed admission.

The event occurs on Jazz on Four and encourages all guests to dress up for the event with clothing fitting of the 1920's. A vast majority of guests elect to dress up and it is highly recommended you do so as well.

Your $35 per guest admission charge includes entertainment, food and of course, drink. There are plenty of alcoholic beverages provided throughout the event in the form of various cocktails. Most of the drinks we had were fruit based drinks.

There is a loose storyline as part of the event, but it is mostly about guests enjoying some drinks and getting onto the dance floor to dance to some great live jazz music.

One interesting part of the event is when all guests are handed play money and betting cards to bet on a horse race. Guests fill out their betting cards and then a recorded radio broadcast plays to reveal the winner. Pretty neat!

Overall, the Prohibition Party is a fun excuse to get dressed up, enjoy ample cocktails with live jazz music. Guests looking for something different in their evening entertainment are sure to enjoy this fun choice.

What we liked: Lots to drink for the money, different event from anything else offered, great live music.

Join us in welcoming back Don from EatSleepCruise! He’s treating us to his list of the best activities for families on Royal Caribbean's Quantum-class cruse ships!

There is so much to do and see onboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Anthem of the Seas, that it is an ideal vacation for families. Whether your family is the outgoing type, or likes to vacation in a relaxed, casual style, Quantum class ships offer a great mix of amenities and public spaces to please everyone from 2 to 92!

If you vacation like us, we know you want to make the most of every minute. But, no matter how many days you are onboard a Quantum class ship, it seems like there is never enough time to get everything done. But, don’t stress. We have outlined the top 10 family activities for your next Anthem of the Seas trip to ensure you have the perfect family vacation.

Soar to New Heights – Quantum class ships offer some amazing “firsts” at seas, among them are Ripcord by iFLY, a skydiving simulator, and North Star, an aerial gondola that takes you 300 feet above sea level. Both are must-do activities for families. While North Star is first come, first serve, you can make iFLY reservations in advance of your trip on the Cruise Planner!

Have Some Four Wheeled Fun- The kids are in for a real treat on Anthem of the Seas as they can experience the first ever roller skating rink at sea. Some roller skating events have themes, like 70s disco night or 90s pop night, so check the cruise compass to find a time that will entertain all members of the family. Then, gear up for a rock and rolling good time! And, yes mom and dad you also have to get out on the rink!

Throw your Own Personal Pizza Party – Most cruise ships have the same boring pizza selections: cheese, pepperoni, and that unidentifiable specialty pizza. However, Sorrento’s Pizza shop on Quantum class ships allows cruisers to make a fresh, custom pie by selecting from a wide array of toppings. So, while everyone else is at dinner, head to Sorrento’s with the kids, and let them be in charge of the menu one night.

Go Head First into Oncoming Traffic – At the multi-use SeaPlex on Anthem of the Seas, there is so much you can do! On several days of your cruise, this venue offers select times for you and your loved ones to let out a little aggression, safely, with some bumper cars. Don’t be fooled by the location, these cars are armed for a mighty good collision. Check the compass for times and restrictions as little ones do need to ride with a parent.

Plan a DIY Scavenger Hunt – There are so many beautiful paintings, digital photographs, and sculptures onboard that Quantum class ships are like floating museums-don’t tell your kids that. So, you can create your own fun by hunting down some of these “rare artifacts” Indiana Jones style. See who can find the most pieces of art in a pre-determined time frame. Hint: the elevators are a great place to start.

Sing Your Lungs Out – A cruise ship staple for young and old alike is karaoke. Happening at different times throughout your Anthem cruise, there are scheduled family karaoke sessions. So, why not get the whole family together for a sing-a-long? Who cares if your 13 year old daughter is embarrassed! Grab her hand and head up to the stage to “Shake it Off” along with Taylor Swift.

Make a Memory – One of the untapped gems of Quantum class ships is The Workshop, a secluded space located in the upper level of Two70. With a variety of complimentary classes available, family members can work with cruise staff to create personalized scrapbooks for all those vacation memories. Even if you have never made one before, there is no better time than the present to start a new tradition. No previous experience is necessary; all you need to bring is your imagination and your DIY skills! And the kids get to play with glue sticks!

Pose with Shrek – Not only Shrek, but many members of the Dreamworks family are onboard, and they want to meet you and the kids. During most sea days, there are scheduled “meet and greet” times to take pictures with all of your favorites, from Princess Fiona and Shrek, to Gloria and Alex from Madagascar, to the cast of How to Train Your Dragon. So, grab your camera and make sure to bring your smiles! Most of these “meet and greets” do allow you to use your own camera for pictures, whereas some of them are for professional portraits only, so check the compass for details.

A photo posted by Royal Caribbean Blog.com (@royalcaribbeanblog) on Nov 13, 2014 at 9:17am PST

Stay in Shape – There are so many organized and unorganized fitness related opportunities onboard Anthem of the Seas that there is no excuse for not staying active during your cruise. Perhaps, just a walk around the sports deck every afternoon for some old fashioned “family time”. Or, you may want to up the ante by challenging your kids to a rock climbing race, or even a boogie board showdown on the surf simulator known as the Flowider. Remember, it will help work off some of those extra calories too!

Make it a Family Movie Night – I know, the last thing you might be thinking on your Caribbean cruise is that you want to sit indoors for 2 hours to watch a movie. Well, lucky for you, Anthem has extra-large outdoor movie screens located on the pool deck, playing family friendly movies. Depending on the length of your cruise, there will probably be two or three different movies playing in rotation. With showings during the early evening, it might be the best time to snuggle up on a deck chair with your personal crew.

Now, all you need to do is book that vacation and get ready for some family fun. If you need some help arranging your Quantum class cruise, our exclusive planning guide might best place to start!

This week, Matt looks at all the activities, events and shows there are to do onboard your Royal Caribbean cruise. From basketball to towel folding demonstrations to the bellyflop competition, there's a lot going on any Royal Caribbean cruise.

Cyndi Lauper may have had it right with her famous song, "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" and onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, there's a lot for girls to do. Here's our take on the top five activities for girls to try on their next Royal Caribbean cruise.

1. Barbie Experience

Royal Caribbean rolled out this new immersive package for fans of the Barbie brand of dolls last year and it's perfect for girls who just cant get enough Barbie. To be honest, the Barbie Experience is less about the doll itself and more about letting girls "glam out" and do the sort of grown up things they usually can only pretend to do with their dolls.

Aimed at girls between the ages of 4 and 11, the Barbie Experience begins with a very pink stateroom overlay and then offers decorations, parties, fashion shows, movies, interactive events and more. If your daughter likes playing with Barbie dolls or even just the idea of dressing up, painting nails and fashion, then this is a must-do for her.

2. H2O Zone

Girls love playing in pools and the H20 Zone that is available on Freedom and Oasis class ships is the perfect playground for them. The H2O Zone is basically a huge aquatic obstacle course, with plenty of sprays, buckets and nozzles spraying water everywhere.

A pool is fun and all, but being able to run around and stay cool in the water is what makes the H2O Zone so appealing to girls. It's more than just a "sit and soak" experience for them with a number of different water toys to play with.

3. Ice skating

It's hard to find a girl that doesn't want to at least try ice skating and with an ice skating rink on Voyager, Freedom and Oasis class ships, this may be the right time to introduce your daughter to ice skating or take your little pro to see how she does while skating at sea.

The ice skating rink is open to girls of all abilities and for those that do not have easy access to an ice rink or frozen pond at home, going for an ice skate on a Royal Caribbean ship could be a really fun and unique opportunity.

4. Movies by the pool

When you combine popular movies on a massive outdoor LCD screen and swimming in a pool, what you get is the perfect place for nearly any girl. Watching their favorite movies like Grease, the Wizard of Oz, or the latest Dreamworks release while they go for a swim is something lots of girls would consider perfect evening.

5. Breakfast with Dreamworks characters

The Dreamworks Experience on select Royal Caribbean ships has become a real hit with kids and girls will love the opportunity to have breakfast with some of their favorite characters.

Meeting characters from popular movies like Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda as they stop by each table for some playful shenanigans. And of course the girls can take their photos with the characters to remember it all by. Oh and did we mention this experience is free? Now the parents will be looking forward to it too!

Bonus: Hanging out with other girls in Adventure Ocean kids club

You know what most girls like to do perhaps more than anything else? Hang out with other girls their age and socialize! Royal Caribbean's Adventure Ocean is the perfect supervised venue for this.

Girls get a chance to meet other girls their age, do various activities together and well, spend time together doing girly things! All these activities we listed are fun enough for any girl but doing it with newly made friends can be the icing on the cake and amount to what any girl would consider to be the perfect vacation.

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